Lever-type connector

ABSTRACT

The invention stabilizes the fitting state of a long and thin multipolar lever-type connector. A female housing  20,  of a pair of long and narrow housings  10  and  20,  has a pivotable lever  23  attached thereto. The lever  23  is provided with cam grooves  27  into which follower pins  13  of the male housing  10  are inserted. The lever  23  is pivoted while these follower pins  13  are in a joined state therewith, thereby causing the two housings  10  and  20  to fit together. Both ends of the female housing  20,  relative to the lengthwise direction thereof, are provided with housing members  30  that house coiled springs  40  and sliders  41  having locking arms  44.  The locking arms  44  are provided with locking protrusions  47  that engage with locking members  14  of the male housing  10  when the housings  10  and  20  reach the correct fitting state. Tapered faces  15  and  48  are formed on locking portions of the locking members  14  and the locking protrusions  47  respectively.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a lever-type electricalconnector.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, when a connector, such as a multipolar connector,requires a high fitting force, a lever-type connector is employed. Inthis lever-type connector, a cam groove is provided in a lever attachedto a male housing. The lever is pivoted while a follower pin attached toa female housing is in an inserted state within the cam groove, thefollower pin thereby being moved along the cam groove and the twohousings being drawn together. The two housings reach a fully fittedstate when the lever reaches a final position, and the lever is retainedby a stopping member provided on the male housing, the two housingsthereby being maintained in a latched state.

[0003] An example of this type of connector is described in JP-6-333637.

[0004] In this type of multipolar connector, both housings have a longnarrow shape and extend in a direction parallel to cavities within thesehousings. In addition, the follower pin that is fitted within the camgroove of the lever is provided at an approximately central locationrelative to the lengthwise direction of the two housings. As a result,when the two housings are in the fitted state, movement in ananterior-posterior direction can readily occur between both lengthwiseends of the two housings (with the follower pin being located in thecentre). Consequently, the two housings are unstable even though theyare in a fitted state.

[0005] It was considered that this problem might be solved by providingretaining devices so as to retain both lengthwise ends of the twohousings. However, it is extremely time consuming, when releasing thefitting state of the two housings, to release not only the lever fromthe stopping member, but also to release the retained state of theretaining devices at two different locations.

[0006] The present invention has taken the above problem intoconsideration, and aims to present a multipolar lever-type connectorthat has a stable fitting state and that can be easily released fromthis fitting state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to the invention there is provided a lever-typeconnector having two relatively long and thin housings for mutualengagement, one of the housings having cam pins provided thereon, andthe other connector housing a corresponding lever for engagement withsaid cam pins, and operable to draw together and to separate saidhousings characterized in that mutually engageable and releasableretaining devices are provided at the ends of lengths of said housings,said retaining devices being provided partially on each housing andbeing resiliently engageable and disengageable by application of apredetermined force to said lever.

[0008] Such a connector provides a releasable semi-latch at theextremities of the long dimension, and accordingly prevents rockingmotion about the pivot axis defined by said cam pins.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment these latches are provided onrespective spring biased sliders which retreat as the housings are drawntogether. Such sliders are released at the point of full engagement topermit latching engagement of the retaining devices. This embodimentprovides detection of correct fitting whereby a failure to move thelever to the final condition corresponding to full engagement of thehousings, causes the housings to be moved apart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Other features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of exampleonly in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away plan view of a connector of anembodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a front view of a male housing.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of a female housing.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a rear face view of the female housing.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away plan view showing the two housingsin an early stage of being fitted together.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away plan view showing the two housingsbeing fitted together.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away plan view showing the two housingsimmediately prior to reaching the correct fitting position.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away plan view showing the two housingscorrectly fitted together.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a rear face view showing the two housings correctlyfitted together.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a partially cut-away plan view showing the two housingsbeing separated.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention is described below withthe aid of FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector of thisembodiment is provided with a male connector housing 10 that fits with afemale connector housing 20, a lever 23 being attached to this femalehousing 20. The fitting face sides of the male and female housings 10and 20 will hereafter be considered as the anterior sides.

[0022] The male housing 10 has a long and narrow shape and is providedwith a cylindrical hood 11 that is open to the anterior. As shown inFIG. 2, a plurality of cavities 12 are aligned in two layers within themale housing 10 along the lengthwise direction thereof. Each cavity 12can have a male terminal fitting (not shown) attached therein. A pair offollower pins 13 protrude from inner faces of the hood 11 at anapproximately central location relative to the lengthwise direction ofthe male housing 10, these follower pins 13 facing one another. Thefollower pins 13 can be inserted into cam grooves 27 of a lever 23 ofthe female housing 20 (to be described).

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the female housing 20 can be fittedinto the hood 11 of the male housing 10 and, like the male housing 10,is long and narrow in shape. A plurality of cavities 21 are alignedwithin the female housing 20, the location of these cavities 21corresponding to the location of the cavities 12 of the male housing 10.Female terminal fittings are housed within the cavities 21, these femaleterminal fittings fitting with the male terminal fittings.

[0024] A pair of axle pins 22, to which the lever 23 is attached,protrude from outer faces of the female housing 20. The lever 23 has aninverted-U shape and is formed from a pair of arms 24 joined by a bridgemember 25. The lever 23 is pivotably attached to the female housing 20by positioning the two arms 24 so as to grip the female housing 20 andfitting the axle pins 22 into attachment holes 26 formed in the two arms24. The lever 23 can be rotated along the lengthwise direction of thefemale housing 20 by pressing the bridge member 25, with the axle pins22 serving as the pivot centre.

[0025] The cam grooves 27, into which the follower pins 13 of the malehousing 10 are inserted, are formed in the arms 24. As shown in FIG. 1,when the lever 23 is in a state prior to being pivoted, an entranceopening 27A of each cam groove 27 faces the anterior. As shown in FIG.5, pivoting the lever 23 after the follower pins 13 have been insertedinto the openings 27A causes the follower pins 13 to move along the camgrooves 27 and causes the two housings 10 and 20 to fit together. Thetwo housings 10 and 20 reach the correct fitting position when the lever23 has been rotated to the position shown in FIG. 8. When the lever 23has been rotated to the position shown in FIG. 8, an end of the bridgemember 25 thereof is retained by a stopping member 28 provided on thefemale housing 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the stopping member 28 has acantilevered shape and is capable of bending resiliently into the femalehousing 20.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of housing members 30 protrude fromboth lengthwise ends of the female housing 20. These housing members 30have an approximately angular cylindrical shape that is open to theanterior. Sliders 41 provided with coiled springs 40 and locking arms 44are housed within these housing members 30, the coiled springs 40 beinginserted first from the anterior via the opening portions thereof, andthen the sliders 41 being inserted therein. The sliders 41 that havebeen attached to the housing members 30 are capable of moving in ananterior-posterior direction within these housing members 30 along thefitting direction of the two housings 10 and 20.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, outer edges of a pair of side walls(these side walls protrude along the lengthwise direction of the femalehousing 20) of the housing members 30 are joined with outer walls 31.The housing members 30 are divided by inner walls 32. Spaces between theinner sides of the inner walls 32 house the coiled springs 40, andspring force receiving walls 33 are provided at the posterior ends ofthe inner walls 32. Posterior ends of the coiled springs 40 arerestrained by these spring receiving walls 33, and when the sliders 41are moved to the posterior, the coiled springs 40 are compressed and thespring force thereof accumulates. When the sliders 41 are attached inthe position shown at the top of FIG. 1, the coiled springs 40 areslightly compressed, and this results in the sliders 41 being keptpositioned towards the anterior.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the coiled springs 40 make contact with thecentre (relative to the widthwise direction thereof) of the sliders 41.Forked holders 42, these maintaining the centrally located coiledsprings 40 in a gripped state, are located at both edges relative to thewidthwise direction of the sliders 41 and extend towards the posterior.A pair of protrusions 43 are formed on both side faces of the sliders41. These protrusions 43 enter a pair of guiding grooves 34 formed ininner faces of the housing members 30 and slide along these guidinggrooves 34, thereby guiding the movement of the sliders 41 in theanterior-posterior direction. Stoppers 35 are formed at anterior ends ofthe guiding grooves 34. The protrusions 43 engage with these stoppers35, thereby retaining the sliders 41 in the anterior direction. When thesliders 41 are in the position shown at the top of FIG. 1, theprotrusions 43 are in an engaged state with the stoppers 35.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, cantilever shaped locking arms 44 protrudeoutwards from anterior end portions of side faces of the sliders 41,these side faces extending along the inner walls 32 of the housingmembers 30. Anterior portions of the inner walls 32 are cut away so asto allow the locking arms 44 to enter therein. The locking arms 44,which are provided with base members 45 and arms 46 that extend towardsthe posterior, can be bent along the lengthwise direction of the femalehousing 20 with the base members 45 serving as the bending regions. Thearms 46 extend along the outer walls 31 of the housing members 30.Bending the locking arms 44 causes the arms 46 to move inwards oroutwards (see FIG. 6).

[0030] The side faces of the arms 46 that extend along the outer walls31 of the housing members 30 are provided with outwardly protrudinglocking protrusions 47. These locking protrusions 47 are locatedposteriorly with respect to the centre (relative to the lengthwisedirection thereof) of the arms 46. Recessed grooves 36, into which thelocking protrusions 47 enter, are formed in the outer walls 31 of thehousing members 30. These recessed grooves 36 are provided along aspecified distance from the anterior ends of the outer walls 31 and areopen at the anterior. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, locking members 14protrude inwards at the anterior end of the hood 11 of the male housing10. The locking protrusions 47 of the locking arms 44 engage with theselocking members 14. A tapered face 15 is formed on a posterior end faceof each locking member 14, this tapered face 15 joining with the innerface of the hood 11 and being gently inclined. A tapered face 48 isprovided on a posterior face of each locking protrusion 47 and isinclined at the same angle as the tapered faces 15. These tapered faces15 and 48 mutually engage. As shown in FIG. 8, if a pulling forceexceeding a specified degree is exerted on the mutually engaged lockingarms 44 and locking members 14 so as to move the two housings 10 and 20in a direction of separation, the locking arms 44 bend while beingguided by the tapered faces 15 and 48, and the engaged state of thelocking members 14 is released. That is, the tapered faces 15 and 48form a semi-locking configuration.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, while the two housings 10 and 20 are beingfitted together, the locking members 14 of the male housing 10 enter therecessed grooves 36 in the outer walls 31 of the housing members 30, andstrike against anterior faces of the locking protrusions 47. When thelocking members 14 are in an inserted state within the recessed grooves36, inner faces of these locking members 14 form approximately unifiedfaces with inner faces of the outer walls 31 of the housing members 30.Anterior faces of the locking members 14 are at right angles to thefitting direction of the two housings 10 and 20, these faces formingpushing members 16 that correspond to the locking protrusions 47. Theanterior faces of the locking protrusions 47, like the pushing members16, are at right angles to the fitting direction of the two housings 10and 20. These anterior faces form pushing receiving members 49 thatreceive the pushing force from the pushing members 16. Performing thefitting operation of the two housings 10 and 20 while the pushingmembers 16 make contact with the pushing receiving members 49 causes anincreased pushing force to be exerted on the pushing receiving members49, thereby pushing the sliders 41 to the posterior and compressing thecoiled springs 40.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of movable guiding members 37is provided at the posterior end of side walls of each housing member30. These movable guiding members 37 adjoin the outer walls 31 at theside faces of the housing members 30 and protrude to a location wherethey form approximately unified faces with edges of the recessed grooves36. As shown in FIG. 1, anterior faces of the movable guiding members 37form arc-shaped faces 38. Posterior end portions of the arms 46 of thelocking arms 36 engage with these arc-shaped faces 38. When the sliders41 are moved towards the posterior while the posterior end portions ofthe arms 46 are engaged with the arc-shaped faces 38, the locking arms44 bend inwards as they are guided by the arc-shaped faces 38. Theposterior end portions of the arms 46 of the locking arms 44 are roundedso as to be semicircular in shape.

[0033] The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next,the operation thereof will be explained. Firstly, as shown in FIG. 5,the female housing 20 is inserted into the hood 11 of the male housing10, the follower pins 13 fitting loosely within the entrance holes 27Aof the cam grooves 27 of the lever 23. At this juncture, the pushingmembers 16 of the male housing 10 make contact with the pushingreceiving members 49 of the locking protrusions 47. The lever 23 is thenpivoted in the direction shown by the arrow.

[0034] While the lever 23 is being pivoted, the follower pins 13 moveinwards along the cam grooves 27 and the two housings 10 and 20 arebrought closer together in the fitting direction. The pushing receivingmembers 49 receive a greater pushing force from the pushing members 16while the fitting of the two housings 10 and 20 progresses, this pushingforce pushing the sliders 41 towards the posterior and compressing thecoiled springs 40. While the lever 23 is pivoted further from the statewhere the posterior end portions of the arms 46 of the locking arms 44make contact with the arc-shaped faces 38 of the movable guiding members37, the sliders 41 move further towards the posterior, the posterior endportions of the arms 46 being guided by the arc-shaped faces 38 of themovable guiding members 37 and the locking arms 44 bending inwards. Asthe locking arms 44 bend, the arms 46 provided with the lockingprotrusions 47 bend inwards, thereby causing the engagement of thepushing receiving members 49 with the pushing members 16 to graduallydecrease.

[0035] If the pivoting of the lever 23 is halted while the two housings10 and 20 are partly fitted together, the accumulated spring force ofthe coiled springs 40 is released, thereby separating the two housings10 and 20. It can be ascertained by this means that the two housings 10and 20 were partly fitted together. The coiled springs 40 are providedat both lengthwise ends of the two housings 10 and 20. Consequently, thepartly fitted housings 10 and 20 separate smoothly from one another.

[0036] When the sliders 41 reach the position shown in FIG. 7, thelocking arms 44 are bent to a position whereby the pushing receivingmembers 49 are completely released from being pushed by the pushingmembers 16. At this juncture, the posterior end portions of the arms 46are no longer guided by the arc-shaped faces 38 of the movable guidingmembers 37, inner edges of the movable guiding members 37 face the outerfaces of the arms 46, and the posterior end portions of the arms 46protrude out from the posterior of the housing members 30.

[0037] The spring force of the compressed coiled springs 40 is releasedwhile the pushing state of pushing members 16 and the pushing receivingmembers 49 is released, pushing the sliders 41 to the anterior. Thisforward movement of the sliders 41 is guided by the protrusions 43sliding within the guiding grooves 34. While the sliders 41 are movingto the anterior, the locking arms 44, while remaining in a bent state,move so as to pass under the locking members 14 of the male housing 10.Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the sliders 41 return to their originalposition and the locking arms 44 return to their original position, thetapered faces 48 of the locking protrusions 47 being retained by thetapered faces 15 of the locking members 14. At this juncture, theprotrusions 43 of the sliders 41 engage with the stoppers 35, therebypreventing the sliders 41 from moving any further towards the anterior.Furthermore, the coiled springs 40 have regained their original length(their length prior to fitting), thereby avoiding set-in fatigue.

[0038] At approximately the same time, the bridge member 25 of the lever23 causes the stopping member 28 to bend resiliently, and the bridgemember 25 rises over it (see FIG. 7). When the lever 23 is pivoted tothe position shown in FIG. 8, it is retained by the stopping member 28which has returned to the end of the bridge member 25 (see FIG. 9). Bythis means, the lever 23 is maintained in a locked state. At thisjuncture, the two housings 10 and 20 are at the correct fitting depth(see FIG. 8). The lever 23 is retained by the stopping member 28 whilethe follower pins 13 are in a fitting state within the cam grooves 27,and the locking arms 44 provided at both lengthwise ends of the twohousings 10 and 20 are retained by the locking members 14, thismaintaining the two housings 10 and 20 in a correct fitting state. Inthis manner, both lengthwise ends of the two housings 10 and 20 aremaintained and, while the two housings 10 and 20 are in the fittedstate, instability and slippage to the anterior or posterior, relativeto the lengthwise direction thereof, is prevented.

[0039] If the two housings 10 and 20 are to be separated for maintenanceor the like, the bridge member 25 of the lever 23 is released from itsretained state while the stopping member 28 is bent, then the lever 23is rotated in the opposite direction to which it was first rotated.While the lever 23 is being rotated, the follower pins 13 move along thecam grooves 27 to the entrance openings 27A and the two housings 10 and20 are moved in a direction of separation. At this juncture, the lockingarms 44 are guided inwards from their retained state with the lockingmembers 14 as the pulling force increases, being guided by the taperedfaces 15 and 48 that fit mutually together, and as they bend theselocking arms 44 are released from their retained state with the lockingmembers 14 (see FIG. 10). By this means, the two housings 10 and 20 arereleased from the retained state and can be separated by rotating thelever 23 further. The locking arms 44 and the locking members 14 formthe semi-locking configuration, and consequently their retained state isreleased automatically by rotating the lever 23.

[0040] In the embodiment described above, both lengthwise ends of thetwo housings 10 and 20 are provided with locking arms 44 and lockingmembers 14 that are retained by the tapered faces 15 and 48.Consequently, the fitting state of the two housings 10 and 20 that havebeen fitted together is stable, and the two housings 10 and 20 caneasily be released from this fitting state.

[0041] This lever-type connector is provided with a fitting detectingmeans composed of the coiled springs 40 and the sliders 41.Consequently, the fitting state of the two housings 10 and 20 can beascertained irrespective of the position of the lever 23. Furthermore,the locking arms 44 (these comprising the retaining device) are providedat both ends of the two housings 10 and 20 in a unified manner with thesliders 41. Consequently, the retaining device and the fitting detectingmeans can be formed in a unified manner, thereby allowing theconfiguration to be simpler than in the case where the two are providedseparately.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove with the aid of figures. For example, the possibilities describedbelow also lie within the technical range of the present invention. Inaddition, the present invention may be embodied in various other wayswithout deviating from the scope thereof.

[0043] (1) In the embodiment described above, the locking arms and thelocking members are both provided with tapered faces. However, thetapered faces may be omitted on one of these two.

[0044] (2) In the embodiment described above, the locking arms thatcomprise the retaining device are provided in the sliders that comprisethe fitting detecting means. However, in the case where fittingdetecting is not required, the coiled springs, the sliders and thehousing members can be omitted and the locking arms can be provided onside faces of the female housing.

1. A lever-type connector having two relatively long and thin housingsfor mutual engagement, one of the housings having cam pins providedthereon, and the other connector housing having a corresponding leverfor engagement with said cam pins, and operable to draw together and toseparate said housings, characterized in that mutually engageable andreleasable retaining devices are provided at the ends of lengths of saidhousings, said retaining devices being provided partially on eachhousing and being resiliently engageable and disengageable byapplication of a predetermined force to said lever.
 2. A connectoraccording to claim 1 wherein said devices each comprise an abutment onone of said housings and a resilient cantilevered arm on the other ofsaid housings, said arms each having a protrusion engageable with saidabutment.
 3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein said abutment andprotrusion have mutually engageable tapered faces.
 4. A connectoraccording to claim 2 wherein said arms are provided on a respectiveslider movable against a resilient force and against the direction ofengagement of said housings.
 5. A connector according to claim 3 whereinsaid arms are provided on a respective slider movable against aresilient force and against the direction of engagement of saidhousings.
 6. A connector according to claim 4 wherein said slider ismovable by direct contact with said one housing.
 7. A connectoraccording to claim 5 wherein said slider is movable by direct contactwith said one housing.
 8. A connector according to claim 4 wherein saidslider is movable by direct contact of said protrusions with said onehousing.
 9. A connector according to claim 6 wherein said slider ismovable by direct contact of said protrusions with said one housing. 10.A connector according to claim 4 wherein said arms are bendable byprojections of said other housing on movement of said slider againstsaid resilient force.
 11. A connector according to claim 6 wherein saidarms are bendable by projections of said other housing on movement ofsaid slider against said resilient force.
 12. A connector according toclaim 8 wherein said arms are bendable by projections of said otherhousing on movement of said slider against said resilient force.
 13. Aconnector according to claim 10 wherein the tips of said arms contactsaid projections for bending thereof.
 14. A connector according to claim11 wherein the tips of said arms contact said projections for bendingthereof.
 15. A connector according to claim 12 wherein the tips of saidarms contact said projections for bending thereof.
 16. A connectoraccording to claim 4 wherein said resilient force is provided by coilsprings associated one each with said sliders and operable between saidsliders and said other housing.
 17. A connector according to claim 6wherein said resilient force is provided by coil springs associated oneeach with said sliders and operable between said sliders and said otherhousing.
 18. A connector according to claim 8 wherein said resilientforce is provided by coil springs associated one each with said slidersand operable between said sliders and said other housing.
 19. Aconnector according to claim 16 wherein said sliders are biasedoutwardly of said other housing to a stop provided on said otherhousing.
 20. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said cam pins areprovided substantially at the mid-point of the length of said one ofsaid housings.